Symphonya. Emerging Issues in Management

Ouverture de “New Perspectives in Global Competition”

Silvio M. Brondoni — 2024-07-11

The decline of international competitiveness of European companies began in the early 1970s and since then there has been no reversal of the trend. In recent years, also due to the growing concentration of investments caused by the 'Oversize Economy' (Brondoni, 2019), the degree of technological advancement of Europe, the United States and China has lost all relationship with the size of their respective Gross National Product. In fact, investments in technology grow when the resources of a large developed or developing market are coordinated by a system of large corporations and finalized by a policy of applied research put at the service of a design capable of mobilizing the resources of an entire country.

Value Analysis, Value Engineering and Value Management in Global Competition

Silvio M. Brondoni — 2024-07-11

Cost analysis is a method to enhance the costs efficiency by evaluating the corporate profitability. In today business environment of global competition, war pressures, new markets and demographics, firms are changing their approach to cost control. In fact, the strategic cost analysis provides useful information for the short and long-term decision-making in order to achieve the growth corporate goals. In the current phase of global competition (Global Shortage Management) corporations must adapt their strategic cost analysis (Value Analysis, Value Engineering or Value Management) to specific competitive policies adopted in certain markets, which may concern 'Planned Obsolescence', 'Total Quality Management (TQM)' or 'Zero Defects Productions' objectives

Green Transition and Industrial Ecosystems: the Impact of EU Taxonomy for Sustainable Activities

Paolo Rizzi — 2024-07-11

In this paper, we review the literature on industrial ecosystems and EU Taxonomy of sustainable activities. We then measure the size, dynamics and specialisation of the industrial ecosystems in Italy - as defined by the European Commission. Subsequently, we try to assess how much different sectors will be involved in the Taxonomy of sustainable activities: Manufacturing, Transportation, Electricity and Water Supply are those strongly involved in terms of employees. EU Taxonomy will radically change in the near future the financial reporting requirements and strategic management actions in the corporate system towards green transition. Firms need to improve their level of knowledge of the Taxonomy and identify suitable actions in order to align with it.

Suspension of Depreciation and Amortization vs. Government Financial Support for Businesses: An International Comparison

Annalisa Baldissera — 2024-07-11

The macroeconomic crisis caused by COVID-19 has led many governments to take emergency actions for safeguarding businesses. In Italy, the suspension of depreciation and amortization (D&A) accounting represented a notable measure as it did not entail expenses for the state. This study aims to evaluate the impact of D&A suspension compared to that of international policies implemented with public financial disbursement. The results show that the measure – quantified in terms of lower business losses – has reached a significant extent, comparable to that of actions financed through public spending.

Green Consumer Behaviour in Global Markets

Takesh Luckho — 2024-07-11

The degradation of planet earth is no longer unknown to the world. The global emphasis on environmental sustainability has led to the emergence of Green Consumer Behaviour. Consumers are increasingly encouraged to adopt green products and services. However, green consumers remain a small market. This study investigates green consumer behaviour focusing on the influence of demographic variables. Using a quantitative research design, 398 participants were surveyed and eight hypotheses were tested. The findings reveal significant relationships between gender, education, income, and green consumer awareness and attitudes, but not age. This robust analysis was critically evaluated through the lens of established theories like the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Despite some statistical limitations, a green consumer decision model is proposed, and the study concludes with recommendations for educational campaigns and policy interventions to promote green consumer practices, providing a valuable resource for future research and practical initiatives in Mauritius.

The Enablers of CSR to Drive a Multifaceted Approach in Pakistan’s Oil and Gas Sectors

Fan Ting — 2024-07-11

This study intends to determine the elements for adopting corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices that would boost the organization's performance (OP) either directly or indirectly in Pakistan's oil and gas sectors. This research demonstrates how companies may improve their performance by participating in various CSR efforts, for example, companies can encourage their workers by providing them with information about CSR practices, and they can support multiple facilitators of CSR integration to enhance OP.

The Impact of the CSRD and the ESRS on Non-Financial Disclosure

Tommaso Fornasari — 2024-07-11

The paper examines the evolution of non-financial reporting in Europe, propelled by significant regulatory changes including the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) adoption. With the European Green Deal as a backdrop, we explore how sustainability has transitioned from a compliance obligation to a strategic imperative fundamentally reshaping corporate behaviour. By integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors into corporate strategies, the new framework enhances transparency, fosters stakeholder trust, and prepares companies for the challenges and opportunities of sustainable operation. We discuss the potential of the European model to set global reporting standards and outline future research directions to assess the effectiveness of standards and their impact on corporate performance, investor behavior, and consumer trust.

Reflection, Reflexivity and the Notion of Technology

Yassine Talaoui — 2024-07-11

Drawing on ethnomethodological conceptualizations of reflection and reflexivity, this paper develops a radical reflexive discourse of technology as simulacra, and critically examines the study of technology and the lessons to be learned from this perspective. As such, the paper investigates the textual practices in determinist, humanist, and post-humanist writings about technology, and re-conceptualizes the concept of technology as a radically postmodern notion.